Last week’s item, “14) The BackPage: The Best Credit Cards/Mileage Programs,” turned out to be quite popular in both readership and comments. But one inquirer asked, “Do you have any knowledge about how to get all these deals when you’re living in the UK? We have a BA AmEx but it’s painfully slow earning points.” Thanks for asking, Catherine. The sad thing is, I do NOT. So we have to use our “Ask the Audience” lifeline. Does ANYONE have great recommendations for great credit card packages outside the USA? We’re looking for smart packages for missionaries and other cross-cultural travelers to use, offering great miles, or cash back, or anything attractive for local churches and their mission teams and short-term trip participants. Just click “Comment” after the web version of this item and let’s see what we can find! Thanks in advance for your help as “one beggar telling another where to find bread.”
This could be a long thread. I’ve found that cards offering mileage points really aren’t much help in accruing significant miles with any airline. When I collected miles with United I had a United Visa card in the UK. The advantage was that the miles earned kept those earned with flights alive. Almost all airline cards in the UK are issued by MBNA.
My preference is for cashback. Amex offer two cash back credit cards – one without fees. Capital One also has several cashback offers but these are on MasterCard. If you are traveling in Africa tghen Visa is more widely accepted.
I live in the UK, and second Andrew’s comments regarding AmEx and CapitalOne as good options.
I have an AmEx issued here that I acquired through my Costco membership; it has no annual fee (other than the Costco membership cost), and provides 2% cashback on travel, 3% on dining, and 1% on everything else. Although AmEx is somewhat limited in terms of where it’s accepted, the cashback has always more than paid for the Costco membership. It should be noted that the requirements for getting a Costco membership in the UK are more stringent than in the US, but if you have a US membership, you can convert it to a UK when it’s up for renewal.
As an American, this Costco AmEx has been the only UK-issued credit card I’ve been able to get (since I have no credit history here), and is enabling me to build credit history plus it is chip-and-pin (and contactless) style…which my US-issued CapOne card is not…making it great for the differing payment methods that exist here. Most UK cashiers are still baffled by my US swipe-and-sign cards.